Optical signalling device, especially for an item of clothing

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an optical signalling device, more particularly for an article of clothing, consisting of at least two actively illuminating light sources 5, which are preferably designed to emit light of different colors and are connected to a control circuit 3 for activating the light sources 5 in a predetermined rhythm, the control circuit 3 being connected to a switch, key 2 or the like for its manual activation and/or deactivation. To obtain an optical signalling device which can be activated not only manually, but also externally, the light sources 5 can be activated manually (switch position I) or by remote control (switch position II). Via the remote control system the light sources 5 can be activated via a receiver 4. As a result, many identical optical signalling devices can be activated simultaneously by a coordinator or automatically at, for example, mass (heavily attended) events, so that an enhanced optical effect is achieved. According to one feature of the invention, the colors of the light sources 5 can correspond to those of certain clubs, organizations or nationalities.

The invention relates to an optical signalling device, more particularlyfor an article of clothing, as set forth in the preamble of claim 1.

Articles of clothing are known which for the safety of the wearer areprovided with optical signalling devices, for example, reflectors, orwith reflecting strips, small plates or the like illuminated from alight source. Helmets have also existed which are equipped with lamps orsearch lights, to enable the wearer to work with both hands with thegreatest possible freedom of movement in dark surroundings.

Various articles of clothing are also known which have opticalsignalling devices for producing optical effects intended forentertainment or publicity purposes. DE-OS 39 00 417 discloses a graphicdisplay device consisting of a plurality of discrete light sourcesforming part of a picture which is printed onto an article of clothing.The illustration can be animated by the activation of a control circuitoperating the light sources. U.S. Pat. No. 4 875 144 discloses a similarinvention, wherein a plurality of glass fibers is worked into an articleof clothing, the ends of the fibers extending through the fabric of thearticle of clothing and being arranged in accordance with differentpictures (images). In all these devices the sequence of illumination ofthe light sources is manually activated via a control circuit.

It is an object of the invention to provide an optical signallingdevice, more particularly for an article of clothing, which producespurely aesthetic or entertaining optical effect and is not only manuallycontrolled, but can also be activated externally via, for example, acoordinator or particular delivered signals.

The problem to which the invention relates is solved by the features ofthe characterizing part of claim 1. The light sources can be activatedboth manually and by remote control. For example, the wearer of theoptical signalling device can activate the control circuit manually,whereafter the light sources connected to the control circuit areactivated in a predetermined rhythm. For example, a fan of a footballclub can in this way express his pleasure that a goal has been scored.The possibility of actuation by remote control enables the light sourcesof the optical signalling device to be activated when certain eventsoccur. For example, at a sporting event, a goal is scored, for example,a coordinator can activate the optical signalling device, or said deviceis activated automatically if the line is passed over.

According to another feature of the invention a large number ofidentical optical signalling devices can be activated simultaneously andin synchronism via a remote control. The result is an enhanced opticaleffect. Synchronous activation is performed by cableless transmission ofthe information required for the controlled activation of the lightsources. For example, at a football stadium when a goal has been scoreda coordinator can activate all the signalling devices of a fan clubsimultaneously via remote control.

According to the features of claim 3 the remote control activation ofthe light sources can be effected via high frequency, infra red light oracoustic signals. The kind of remote control can be selected inaccordance with various aspects, such as the presence of certaintransmitting installations, guidelines, transmission characteristics,etc. For example, at stadiums, usually loud speaker installations arepresent, via which the remote control activation of the opticalsignalling devices can be effected without the installation of specialtransmitting installations.

According to another feature of the invention the colors of the lightsources correspond to those of certain clubs, organizations ornationalities. In this way the members of such clubs, organizations ornationalities can show themselves as such and demonstrate theiraffiliation.

The light sources can also be differently colored by covering withdifferent colors. This economically enables even colors to be obtainedwhich are not, for example, in the color spectrum of available lightsources such as, for example, light-emitting diodes.

With the light sources arranged in the form of a matrix, a sufficientnumber of light sources, symbols or graphics can be displayed in asimilar manner as in advertising panels.

Preferably, the optical signalling device according to the inventiontakes the form of a head covering, for example, in the form of abaseball cap. Such a cap, which is at present particularly favoured bysporting amateurs and young people is thereby adapted in a practicalmanner which appeals to the wearers, while at the same time the peak ofthe cap is able to prevent the light effect from dazzling or similarlybothering the wearer. Moreover, light sources disposed on headwear cannot so easily be concealed, for example, by the spectator in front inthe stadium. Since the optical signalling device should advantageouslybe disposed in the viewing direction of the wearer, headgear isadvantageous, since it accompanies the movements of the wearer's head.

Of course, various other applications, variations and constructionalalterations can be made within the framework of the invention. Forexample, at sporting events the caps or clothing of the spectatorsand/or sportsmen or sportswomen can be provided with light elementswhich can be illuminated and switched off, for example, by remotecontrol. Each wearer can switch his or her own light element on and off,or else a coordinator or one of the participants can at choice switch onand off the light elements of all the wearers by remote control, forexample, via a transmitter. At sporting events where two or more groupsof club fans are present, each group can wear the light elements of itsown club, and only the elements of one group or another can be switchedon and off by the coordinator concerned.

Similar signalling devices can also be used for advertising purposes inpublicity spots, advertising signs, company signs, etc. Other featuresof the invention will now be explained with reference to theaccompanying drawings, which show:

FIG. 1 a block circuit diagram of one embodiment of the opticalsignalling device,

FIG. 2 a detailed block circuit diagram of the control system shown inFIG. 1,

FIG. 3 a detailed block circuit diagram of one embodiment of an externalcontrol system (remote control) and of the receiver of the opticalsignalling device,

FIG. 4 a circuit diagram of the remote control activation of a pluralityof optical signalling devices, and

FIGS. 5a to 5c different embodiments of the optical signalling device.

Referring to FIG. 1, an optical signalling device comprises a voltagesource 1, a changeover switch 2, a control system 3, a receiver 4 andlight sources 5. The voltage source 1 is advantageously formed by lowvoltage accumulators or batteries. In many applications, voltage supplyor boosting by solar cells can be considered. In the embodimentillustrated the switch 2 has three contacts available for the selectionof the three functions; I internal control (manual control), II externalcontrol (remote control), III "off" (inoperative). In switch position Ithe internal control system 3 is activated and operates the lightsources 5 in a preprogrammed rhythm. In switch position II the receiver4 is activated, thereby making possible the reception of externalcontrol signals (remote control). In switch position III the connectionto the voltage supply is interrupted, so that no operation is possible.Instead of using a switch, the operational mode can also be switchedover by means of a key, the operational mode being changed with eachdepression of the key. In the drawings the light sources 5 are shown tobe light-emitting diodes. The use of LEDs makes possible the colorsyellow, orange, red, green and blue. To obtain other colors,correspondingly colored transparent plastics parts are placed in frontof the light source. Care must be taken in that the light sources haveadequate illuminating intensity for an adequate optical effect. Theoptical signalling device is characterized by small height and lowvoltage consumption and manufacturing costs.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the control system 3 shown in FIG. 1. Thecontrol system 3 comprises an oscillator 6 generating a timing signal ofsuitable frequency which times a logic circuit 7. In dependence on therequired order of illumination of the light sources, the operating logiccircuit 7 can consist of a simple counter or an individually programmeddigital integrated circuit (IC). With a counter the LEDs 5 can beilluminated in sequence, while any required switching sequences can beprogrammed using more complex customized IC or microcontrollers.

FIG. 3 shows the transmitting device required with the external (remote)control of the optical signalling device transmitting the controlpulses, and also one embodiment of the receiver of the opticalsignalling device shown in FIG. 1. The transmitter side circuit consistsof a triggering circuit 8, an encoder 9 and a transmitter 10 withtransmitting antenna 11. In the simplest case the triggering circuit 8consists of a key which can be actuated, for example, by a coordinatorwhen a certain event takes place. However, the triggering pulse can alsooriginate from a light barrier or a sensor, which delivers a signal whena predetermined threshold is exceeded. Following said triggering, anencoding or an encoding sequence is activated encoder 9. The encodingcontains the information required for controlling the light sources 5 inthe reception side circuit. The transmitter 10 is modulated with thegenerated codes, and the signal is radiated by the antenna 11.Transmission is via a high frequency signal carrier in the correspondingfrequency band. The transmitting energy is adjusted in accordance withthe required range and the regulations in force. A receiving antenna 12receives the remote control signals, which it feeds to a receiver 13. Adecoder 14 obtains the information from the signal received and is fedto an operating circuit 15 which operates the light sources 5. Theremote control activation enables certain light sources of a pluralityof identical optical signal devices to be operated synchronously, theresult being an increased optical effect. If the remote control is via ainfra red light, use is made of an infra red light-emitting diode or aninfra red laser, an infra red photodiode, for example, being usedinstead of the receiving antenna 12; in the case of remote control viaacoustic signals, a loud speaker acts as the transmitter and themicrofilm as the receiver. Acoustic remote control may be advantageousin cases where acoustic installations already exist. In the case of astadium, for example, loud speaker installations are usually presentwhich can be used to transmit the control signals for the opticalsignalling device. The signals can lie outside the range of hearing ofthe human ear (e.g. ultrasonics) or in the audible frequency range.Since microphones are very cheap, the optical signalling devices can bevery reasonable in price and therefore accessible by the broad masses.Another advantage of acoustic control lies in the propagation propertiesof sound waves, which are favorable for this application. Themicrophones on the optical signalling devices must not be aligned withthe transmitting device (loud speaker). Moreover, the optical signallingdevices can be activated by certain sequences of notes such as, forexample, a particular melody characterizing a sports club. At musicalevents it is also conceivable for the illuminating elements to beautomatically activated in time with the music.

FIG. 4 is a basic circuit diagram for the remote control activation of aplurality of optical signalling devices. A large number of spectatorsat, for example, a stadium have the signalling devices according to theinvention in the form, for example, of baseball caps 16 with lightsources 5. If a goal is scored during a football match, a coordinatorcan activate a triggering circuit 8, for example, by pressing a button,thereby switching on a transmitter 10. If the remote control is viainfra red light, the control signals are radiated via transmittingantenna H, realized by an infra red light source whose transmittingimage and rectification characteristic R is selected in accordance withrequirements. If the optical signalling devices 16 of all the fans areto be activated simultaneously, a wide rectification characteristic R aspossible is selected. If controlled activity is to take place, a narrowrectification characteristic R of the transmitting diode 11 will benecessary. With a suitably narrow transmitting beam, theoreticallydifferent patterns or even atoms of information can be "written" intothe spectators area. The signalling devices according to the inventionwould therefore be suitable also for switching on informational items oradvertising. In the case of supraregional events, remote control bymeans of high frequency signals via satellite might also be conceivable.

FIGS. 5a to 5c show a number of embodiments of the optical signallingdevice according to the invention. 5a shows an article of clothing inthe form of a baseball cap 16 with integrated light-emitting diodes 5.The entire electronic system, the voltage supply and the receivingdevice required for the reception of the remote control signals(receiving antenna with high frequency transmission or photodiode withoptical transmission) are integrated in the baseball cap. In dependenceon the remote control method used, the cap contains a receiving antenna,a photodiode or a microphone. The light-emitting diodes 5 are activatedby the control signals received. The embodiments shown in FIG. 5b areilluminating rods consisting of the light sources and a handle 17 whichcontains the electronic system, the voltage supply and the receptioncircuit. In the right-hand illustration use is made of optical fibers18, which are coupled to the active illuminating elements in the handleand transmit the light to the end of the fibers. In the left-handembodiment the light sources are integrated in a plastics member 19. Theilluminating rods are activated and particular sequences of illuminationare passed via a remote control pulse. In FIG. 5c the optical signallingdevice is placed on or integrated in a sweatshirt 20. The active lightsources are arranged in the form of a matrix 21. In dependence on thenumber, arrangement and colour of the light sources of the matrix 21 itis possible to display letters, text or graphics such as, for example,the goal keeper and the state of play at a football match. The necessaryinformation for the correct operation of individual illuminatingelements is transmitted together with the remote control signal. Thenecessary electronic system, voltage supply and reception device is alsointegrated in the sweatshirt.

Embodiments of the invention are not limited to the examplesillustrated. The device according to the invention can also have avelcro closure and be placed on any article of clothing.

The possible uses of the signalling device according to the inventionare versatile and not limited to the exemplary embodiments described.However, heavilyattended (mass) events, such as sporting events orconcerts are to be preferred. For greater optical effect, use ispreferably in dark rooms for an evening darkness. For example, if a goalis scored at a football match, the colors of the scoring club light upsimultaneously and cyclically on all the fans equipped with such anoptical signalling device, thus encouraging the team in question.Without the use of wires, for example, the state of play at a footballmatch can also be transmitted to and displayed on the clothing of thespectators. Existing public illuminating matrixes can also be used fordisplaying small advertising texts or company logos. At concerts alsothis device can be used to express the audience's enthusiasm.

I claim:
 1. A combination comprising a plurality of identical opticalsignaling devices for producing purely aesthetic or entertaining opticaleffects each having a plurality of light sources, control circuit meansconnected to each of said optical signaling devices for activating saidlight sources, manual activating and deactivating means for manuallyactivating and deactivating said control circuit means, and remotecontrol system means adapted to send a control signal to said opticalsignaling devices for simultaneously activating and deactivating insynchronism a plurality of said optical signaling devices for producingsaid optical effects.
 2. The combination of claim 1, wherein saidsignals are high frequency, infrared light or acoustic signals.
 3. Thecombination of claim 1, wherein said light sources of each of saidoptical signaling devices emit light of predetermined colorcombinations.
 4. The combination of claim 1, wherein said light sourcesare covered with different colors.
 5. The optical signaling devices ofclaim 1, wherein said light sources are simultaneously activated insynchronism in a matrix to optically form symbols or graphics.
 6. Thecombination of claim 1, wherein said optical signaling devices arebaseball caps.
 7. The combination of claim 1, wherein said opticalsignaling devices are items of clothing.
 8. A combination comprising aplurality of identical optical signaling devices for producing purelyaesthetic or entertaining optical effects each having a plurality oflight sources which emit light of predetermined color combinations,control circuit means connected to each of said optical signalingdevices for activating said light sources, manual activating anddeactivating means for manually activating and deactivating said controlcircuit means, and remote control system means adapted to sand a highfrequency, infrared light or acoustic control signal to said lightsources for simultaneously activating and deactivating in synchronism aplurality of said optical signaling devices in a matrix to opticallyform symbols or graphics.